Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. MORSE. Breechioading Fire-Arm.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

G. W. MORSE, OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREEGH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,- GEORGE W. MORSE, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Breech-Loading Gun; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, made part of thisspecification, and letters to correspond thereWith the same letters referring to similar parts in the several figures.

My gun is so constructed that before loading it I can blow through it or run water through it with facility; but when the charge is in it becomes comparatively air and water tight,

because I use a' cartridge-case which seals the breech-joint, both as to powder and the priming. I

My gun is also constructed in such wise that I retract, drop the cartridge, prepare the parts for the insertion of another cartridge, and cock the gun by one motion-via, the pulling up and back the cover -of the case, to which the movable parts are forthe most part attached, and this I dowhether the cartridge be fired or not fired.

a, Figure 1,is the casing, to which the moveable parts are attached, or in which they move,

and is fastened to the barrel by a female screw,

P, and a" pin at b, and is fastened to the shoal-- der-pieee by side straps and a detachable top strap, which. latter is fastened to it at c.

(1, Figs. 2, 3, and 14, is the cover, fastened by a spring-catch at c, Fig. 1. By a tongue, f, it is fastened in the slot 9, by a pin at h. The lower faces of the -projections i of the casing come in contact with the surfaces j of the covers joint-knuckles k, which fit into the curves 1 on the limbs of the link m,- Fig. 5, which connect the cover'to the sliding breech-piece n,

Figs. 7 and 8, the latter having curves 2 for the front joint-knuckles of the link.

Two straps, 11, Fig. 5, and q, the latter a spring-strap, Fig. '4, attach the link to the cover at the pinso. wedge -shaped, with the apex toward the cover-joint, as seen in section, Fig. 6, and allows play between the limbs to the hammer.

10, Fig. 1, is a lip on the casing, but is not necessary. The hammer is operated by an outside lever, 8, Fig. 16.

Pins r, Fig. 13, detach the nippers 8, Figs.

11 and 12, from the cartridge by pressing the The body of the link is handles of the nippers as-they are brought into their field of action by the retraction of the sliding breech-piece, the nippers moving on a center or pin at 0, Figs. 11 and'12, and lying in grooves on the outside of the side pieces, E, which are screwed at D to the sliding breech-piece, and lie close to flanges H, projecting from the face end of the breechpiece,-and carry pins, as at F, Fig. 11, to hold the link to the breech-piece. This piece has. a tongue, 3 through the length of which the percussion-pin b, Fig. 9,passes. This pin has a head or anvil, 'w, fastened to it by a screw, as, the pin having an enlargement at the other end to prevent its dropping out to act better on the primer.

A guide, A, Fig. 10, is screwed at B to the tongue 3 Figs. 7 and 8, to keep the anvil in position. The front face of the'body of the link m rests against the shoulder a of the breech-piece.

The barrel-face M of the breech-piece is cupped by a rim, N, portions being cut out for the nipper-jaws to drop in and clasp the cartridge. This rim projects without contact into the chamber 0, Fig. 14.

1, Figs. 11 and 12, are slots in the adj ustable slides a. These slots allow the play laterally of the slides into and out of the grooves t, Fig. 1, and the slides are pushed in and out by inserting the screw-driver into slots J. The guides are fastened out into the grooves by the screw L, Fig. 14, passing through holes or slots K, Fig. 11.

The guard-strap Q, Figs. 13, 14, and 15, is attached to the shoulder-piece by the usual screw, and atits guard end S to projectionslwithin the casing a by hooks It, Figs. 13 and 14.

Standards W are pendent from each side of the hammer-slot T, and at X the trigger-guard Y is attached thereto by the pin on which the hammer centers. The trigger-guard is fastened by a strap, Z, to Q at the rear, Figs. 13, 14, and 15. Y I I The trigger 4 has the usual spring, 1, (seen at the part broken out at 2,) and temper-screw 3 to determine the bite of its head 5 into the catch or depression for it in the back of the hammer-leg.

The hammer 9 is operated .by the spring V through the stirrup U, Fig. 14, inthe usual way. I

I its motion.

Should the cover be up, and the trigger pulled, the blow of the hammer would throw it down. Should the cover be down, but not fastened, the blow of the hammer would fast en it. The gun would not fire in the first case, but might in the second case, and it it did the parts would be ready for the firing. In any case the gun is a safe one to handle. .Throw the gun in the water, take it out or fire it under water, if the cartridges are water-proof,

and it makes no difference.- H

Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, and 16 are in perspective. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the cover.

d, Fig. 13, is a horizontal section to show the hammer and nippers in positiouwheu the gun is fired, all points .being left out which would obscure this view. i

Fig. 14is a vertical section to show the hammer and nippers when the movable parts are retracted and the hammer cocked, parts being omitted, so as not to obscure this view.

Fig. -17 simply illustrates in vertical and central section a cartridge suitable for these .tion of the nippers. i

To charge and prepare the gun to itis only necessary to pull up and back the cover d, which carries with it-th'e other movable parts, and cooks the hammer. I insert another or a cartridge, throw forward and liatch the mover, and the gun is ready to be red. j, If desired, the gun can be uneocked and the firing vreserved till occasion for it.

Having thus fully described thenature and operation of my breech-loading gun, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

without contact into the chamber 0, substantially in the manner andsfor the purpose described, contact being attained thro lgh the medium of a cartridge-case.

2. The nippers s and the m ode of operating them by the pins 1' and the'shoulder7 on the hammer, or equivalents therefor, substantially in-the manner and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of movable parts, ortheir equivalents, whereby I retract or. deliver 7 the gun of-a cartridge, drop it, open and clear the way for the insertion of another cartridge,- whether the previous charge was fired or failed to fire, and cock the hammer automatically at .one motion, substantially in the manner described. g GEO. W. MORSE. Attest: r

" Tuos. G. CLINTON, GILBERT TOWLES.

1. Inserting the rim mer-if equivalent, 

